Sept 3 Devotion: What is Our Persuasion?

Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

         It is very important to understand the principle behind this verse. There must be a choice made between the pleasing of God or the pleasing of men. It may be that we can draw a bigger crowd by pleasing men. It may be that we can gain the applause of men by pleasing men. It may be that we become more popular by pleasing men. But if that is our goal, then we have abandoned the way of God and have chosen self-glory instead of God’s glory.

         Man’s religion is man centered. It seeks self-gain and approval. It is pride driven and in essence, never looks higher than one’s own opinion. The above verse describes it perfectly. If you are driven to please men, (no matter who they are) then you are serving men and self rather than truly being “the servant of Christ”. To be his servant is to base everything on the word of God, and not deviate from it. Trends don’t affect it. Bias doesn’t affect it. Circumstances don’t affect it. Popularity doesn’t affect it. It is a humble walk with the Lord that wants what God wants. It is uncompromising and therefore ridiculed by the men pleasers. But don’t be deterred. Don’t waver. God’s way is the way that leads to true fulfillment and a lifting up of the Lord to his proper place of prominence.

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

         Here is a thought to consider. If you are going to be of the greatest benefit to men, then you must be “the servant of Christ”.

In Christ’s Service,

Bro. Adrian Moore

2 Cor. 4:5